Studio Kura Proposal – July 2019
Rachel Eng
During my residency I plan to create a series of drawings, collages, and small sculptures referencing the local coastal and rural landscape of Itoshima. My work draws from my surroundings and my current research involves an investigation of the phenomenal aspects of the natural world and our current climate situation. The forests, coast, fields, and architecture near Studio Kura provide diverse ecosystems to observe and source imagery from. My drawings and sculptures will focus on what organisms and objects might go unnoticed in our daily lives, and how they have a significant role in either maintaining or disrupting the balance of life in our world. Recently, I have been working with materials that are ephemeral and permanent as well as organic and synthetic. My work pushes to transform materials with inherent meanings into unexpected forms, like plastic bags into a tapestry, in order to question our human curiosity, empathy, and potential for change. Plastic bags are commonly given out by stores to carry ones purchases and they are frequently discarded or recycled after being used once in the United States. Single use plastic items can be found everywhere from cups and utensils to packaging. The energy and resources to recycle these plastics is tremendous and I am questioning how to bring awareness to the accumulation of these materials in our world. Depending on what materials I find during my time at Studio Kura, I would incorporate them into different drawings and small sculptures. Additionally, if there is access to a printer, I will also print black & white images from photographs I take while there, and draw back into them. Utilizing the laser cutter for my drawings and collages is of interest to me as well.
I am excited to meet other artists and the local community and learn more about the local culture. I would be happy to host a workshop for all ages and at the conclusion of my residency, it would be great to put together an exhibition in one of the spaces available.
Most of my drawings are detail oriented or use repetitive patterns, and are in pen or pencil on a range of types of paper.
See images below:
Rachel Eng
During my residency I plan to create a series of drawings, collages, and small sculptures referencing the local coastal and rural landscape of Itoshima. My work draws from my surroundings and my current research involves an investigation of the phenomenal aspects of the natural world and our current climate situation. The forests, coast, fields, and architecture near Studio Kura provide diverse ecosystems to observe and source imagery from. My drawings and sculptures will focus on what organisms and objects might go unnoticed in our daily lives, and how they have a significant role in either maintaining or disrupting the balance of life in our world. Recently, I have been working with materials that are ephemeral and permanent as well as organic and synthetic. My work pushes to transform materials with inherent meanings into unexpected forms, like plastic bags into a tapestry, in order to question our human curiosity, empathy, and potential for change. Plastic bags are commonly given out by stores to carry ones purchases and they are frequently discarded or recycled after being used once in the United States. Single use plastic items can be found everywhere from cups and utensils to packaging. The energy and resources to recycle these plastics is tremendous and I am questioning how to bring awareness to the accumulation of these materials in our world. Depending on what materials I find during my time at Studio Kura, I would incorporate them into different drawings and small sculptures. Additionally, if there is access to a printer, I will also print black & white images from photographs I take while there, and draw back into them. Utilizing the laser cutter for my drawings and collages is of interest to me as well.
I am excited to meet other artists and the local community and learn more about the local culture. I would be happy to host a workshop for all ages and at the conclusion of my residency, it would be great to put together an exhibition in one of the spaces available.
Most of my drawings are detail oriented or use repetitive patterns, and are in pen or pencil on a range of types of paper.
See images below:
